There are as many ways to travel as there are people on this planet, for we are all different, and have different needs, ideas, and passions for exploring. Some travelers love sticking to the tried-and-true, whilst others head off the beaten path. Travel for women is an excellent option for many, while for those of us with young children, traveling seems easiest when we explore the world through young eyes. I have learned much while publishing this site, but one thing that stands out is to find an expert and learn from them - that is the essence of international education. Whether it is a knowledgeable seller in a market telling us what is in season and freshest, or learning French kitchen tricks from a chef, finding those in the know helps learning a language, culture, country much easier.

One such source of knowledge for travel and culture is an excellent website for learning of France, through natural and authentic learning in small group tours, including travel for women, tours for men and women, and travel and painting workshops in France.  French Escapade is based in California, and led by a Belgian woman, Jackie Grandchamps, PhD, Tour Director at www.frenchescapade.com.  You can also see her blog at www.traveltofranceandmore.com.  Jackie shares such incredible experiences through French Escapade that just reading of them makes you eager to head to France. French Escapade utilizes native guides, local resources, and promotes intercultural learning through immersion into the French culture. 

We were lucky enough to sit down and talk with Jackie about French Escapade  - here's what she had to say...

WE:  Please tell us about your site, French Escapade...

JG: French Escapade offers a different way to travel as it proposes authentic experiences: we design tours in places we thoroughly know because we have lived there or spent a great amount of time there. We do not “sell” trips as a product, but we take people with us to share our emotions and our knowledge of a culture. We do not buy trips from third parties. We manage our tours from A to Z. People are our guests, in small groups, and we travel with them. We are proud to regard our trips as gifts to our guests, far from superficial tourism. We mainly do 8-day tours, but we also customize for private parties.  

On our site, we offer tours to France, Belgium and California. I am a native of Belgium, Valerie (my partner) lives in France, and I live in San Francisco. We also propose painting workshops in these areas, with experienced artists on site (Victoria Brooks, Sandy Delehanty, Sonja Hamilton …). Most of our tours are done in English but we now have more and more French and French Canadians who want to travel with us, so we have started French-speaking tours.

WE: What was the genesis of your company?

JG: My job as a researcher first in molecular biology then in usability was a lonely task. Besides, as much as I loved my life in California, I was starting to miss some things from Europe. So when I met Valerie from France, we talked about a possible business which could be done on both continents. Travelling being our favourite activity, we decided to share our love of our countries and of travelling with others.

WE: What experiences do you offer on your tours?

JG: We want to show that each of our destinations is and is not the stereotyped image portrayed in foreign countries. Yes, Belgium has beer and chocolate, so we tour some family factories and taste these delicious products. Yes, we see the Maneken Pis and cruise the Bruges canals. But we also introduce people to the linguistic feud between the Flemish and the Walloons; we meet war survivors who explain the hardship of the Battle of the Bulge; we do not only eat speculoos cookies but we actually bake some with a local pastry chef; we attend local festivals where no foreign tourists have ever been … We do the same in France and California. We show the mainstream touristy sites, but we lay the emphasis on what is at the chore of a culture.

WE:  How do you introduce participants to the French culture?

JG: French culture in 2009 is not the same as it was decades ago. We do not want people to see the Eiffel tower and lavender in Provence, and think they know about France. Cooking and food is always an excellent medium to teach culture. Let’s take breakfast to start: people who travel alone will only stay in hotels and never know French people do not use a mug or cup to drink their café au lait, but a bowl! On the menu of our welcome buffet, we often have dishes like Taboule salad and we then explain how French colonies and immigration has influenced French culture. Instead of just eating French cheese as if you were touring the country by yourself or on another tour, we show people how to slice French cheeses the French way, according to their shapes. Most of all, we love to introduce people to local micro-cultures: the French from the Alps are different from the French from Provence or from Brittany. So we show all that when going to markets, when visiting family business or even getting invited at people’s homes.

WE:  How can people prepare for these trips, interculturally?

JG: We always send a thorough information package with tips on reading to do beforehand, such as the great “Culture Shock” collection.
I try to personally meet our future guests beforehand; I sometimes organize a meeting before the trip if people do not live too far.

WE:  Are there ways for people to give back to the local communities, while on your escapades?

JG: We are planning trips in Senegal and if we were to do them, we would like it to plan them that way, with a special programme to help a school or a local organization.

In Europe, the exchange is more psychological. We are an eye-opener for both Europeans and Americans who have stereotyped ideas about the other culture: Americans think French people do not like them when they often admire them, French people think Americans only care about fast-food when they are gourmet travellers.

WE:  Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

JG: We just want to let people know we design these tours to share, to give, and to love. Yes, I make my living with it but it is a heart journey: for me, and for my guests. They always come back with their heart full of meaningful memories, and not only with pretty pictures in their cameras.

WE: Thanks so much, Jackie! Your tours sound like life-changing experiences, for all involved. 

NOTE:

French Escapade has special promotions offering 50% off on these 2 trips:

- trip for women to Provence when the lavender is in bloom, June 20-27

- Cultural trip to Belgium, August 21-27

They only have a few spots left!

For more information on French Escapade, including travel for women, small group tours in France, and more, please see:

http://www.FrenchEscapade.com

All photos courtesy and copyright of French Escapade.